Hamada, 60, is a third-term upper house member belonging to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) junior Komeito coalition party ally.

His appointment comes following his predecessor, Hiroaki Nagasawa cheap fjallraven big , who also belonged to Komeito, relinquishing his post and party position for allowing a female to stay in a housing complex for lawmakers, in violation of the party's rules.

The scandal comes as Komeito and other parties are gearing up to go to the polls in a snap general election to be held next month.

Revelations of Nagasawa's indiscretion came to light following a weekly magazine's inquiry on the indiscretion, which led to Nagasawa being quizzed by a senior party official and the two-term upper house member resigning to account for the scandal.

The new appointment Wednesday comes amid a string of scandals and gaffes to hit the ruling LDP-led bloc cheap fjallraven kanken mini backpack , including accusations of cronyism leveled at Abe himself.

The Reconstruction Agency, established in the wake of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster to deal with rebuilding efforts, has itself been beset with gaffe-linked scandals leading to its representatives resigning.